By Bucky Beaver
The Ballard boys on the aircraft carrier Midway in San Diego harbor, photo courtesy BHS Athletics
Boys
The Ballard boys basketball team washed a lot of cars this summer in order to raise money to attend the Surf N’ Slam basketball tournament in San Diego over the holiday break. The boys played three games in four days going 1-2 against two California teams and a Washington team. The boys came out a little flat in their opening game and a half but closed out with a solid game to finish the tournament. All of the games were competitive and close. The team was led in scoring by Juniors Johnny Verduin with 40 points, Seth Berger with 39 points and Stuart MacGeorge with 27 points over the tournament. Johnny Verduin and Seth Berger each had two player-of-the-game awards and Johnny Verduin made the All-Tournament team. Seniors Domisi Thrash and Jake Devine added 21 and 12 points over the tournament, respectively. Junior Raymond Owens contributed 12 points in his starting debuts. Ballard begins a tough two weeks of conference play next week by playing on the road at #3 Skyline on Tuesday and on the road again Friday at #7 Garfield.
Girls
The girls travelled across the pond to play in the Kingco vs Wesco holiday tournament sponsored by Juanita High School. The young Lady Beavers struggled with consistency throughout the tournament playing solid halves in each game but never putting two together in the same game. They played three games in three days losing all three games. The girls finished the tournament strong spotting Glacier Peak an 11 point lead at half and then winning the second half by four points. The Lady Beavers were led in scoring by Sophomores Cailey Beckett with 44 points, Nancy MacGeorge and Imani Bender each with 20 points and Beverly Verduin with 17 points over the course of the tournament. The Lady Beavers also open conference play next week with a home game Wednesday against always strong Skyline and then on the road Friday at Garfield. (Photo of Sophomore Cailey Beckett who had a very good holiday tournament courtesy of BHS Athletics.)
